Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Chicago received a $736,079 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded July 8, 2026, with completion targeted for June 30, 2031. This award funds research investigating the role of commensal-reactive gamma delta T cells in anti-tuberculosis immunity. The project addresses a critical gap in understanding how specific gut microbiota strains influence tuberculosis (TB) immunity by examining the molecular mechanisms through which commensal bacteria activate human gamma delta T cell receptors and promote anti-TB defense responses. Research findings indicate that individual human gamma delta T cell receptors can recognize both proteins from Bifidobacterium longum and antigens from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, suggesting that gut commensals condition T cells through cross-reactivity—a phenomenon with potential implications for improving TB prevention and therapeutic strategies.

The research directly supports NIAID's mission to advance biomedical knowledge of infectious diseases through peer-reviewed scientific investigation. By elucidating the specific commensal strains and molecular pathways that enhance TB immunity, this project contributes to addressing the urgent global health burden of tuberculosis, which causes over one million deaths annually and is increasingly challenged by drug-resistant strains. The five-year research initiative is conducted at the University of Chicago's Chicago, Illinois facility and generates translational insights applicable to vaccine development and immunotherapeutic interventions.